4 ways to keep your kids from mooching off you forever

As parents (or grandparents), we spend a lot of time teaching kids good manners, how to be safe, and how to act appropriately in public. But often we neglect one of the most important lessons – preparing them to be financially responsible.

Statistics show that kids aren’t learning much about personal finance in school. That means, if we’re not teaching them about money, there may be no place in their world where financial education takes place. As a result, they will likely enter adulthood with very little awareness of what dollars and cents really mean.

Below are four ways we can teach children about money and set our little ones on a path of future financial success and prosperity.

1. Model good money behavior. Kids are more likely to do what you do than do what you say. Make sure you’re showcasing healthy financial philosophies and behaviors in your own life. Also, be honest and transparent about your financial situation, including the mistakes and successes you’ve had with money and how you’re working to reduce debt and increase saving and giving. Don’t brush off questions about money or pretend it’s not important. Instill in your children from an early age that handling money in a smart and generous way is one of the most important aspects of a successful life.

(Our daughter loves playing “Cash Flow for Kids“*  with us. It’s a fun game, created by the author of “Rich Dad, Poor Dad,” that teaches the basics of earning and spending, assets and liabilities. The other day, as I was buying something online, Eva said, “Mom, you know that’s a liability, right? We should try to build assets instead.”) 😉

2. Avoid the phrase, “We can’t afford it.” This may cause children to worry that the family is struggling financially. Instead, consider saying, “We choose not to spend our money that way.” Even better, consider asking, “How can we afford it?” This encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills, expanding childrens’ understanding of how value and wealth are created. It also teaches that we do, indeed, have a great deal of control over our ultimate financial destiny.

3. Involve kids in household shopping. Take them to the store and let them hold your list or coupons. This is a great chance to talk about planning, saving and finding the best value. Don’t, however, overexpose children to shopping. Shopping as simply a leisure activity encourages materialism and impulse buying.

4. Consider an allowance but never a loan. An allowance can help children learn how to handle money on their own. Experts recommend starting at age 6 with a weekly amount and then spacing out the timing as children get older. You can use it as a way to teach short- and long-term saving as well as good spending habits and giving philosophies. Resist the urge to give kids a loan. It’s important they make choices and then live with the consequences. If they spent their month’s allowance in the first week, too bad. By experiencing a negative consequence firsthand, they’ll learn to make smarter choices.

“Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.” – 1 Tim. 6:17-19

Do you feel you’ve done a good job teaching your kids or grand kids about money? What challenges have you faced in this area?

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